Cape Girardeau officials broke ground Wednesday on construction of a new fire station to replace its oldest station. The $3 million, 11,000-square-foot, brick structure will be built adjacent to a residential area at 3011 Lexington Ave. It will replace Fire Station 4, which opened in 1974.
"We have outgrown that station," fire chief Rick Ennis said after the ceremony.
The current station is staffed with a three-man crew. The new station, which city officials estimate will open next summer, will have the same size crew.
The new station will allow the city to better protect a growing number of commercial and residential developments on the city's northwest side, as well as respond to incidents in Cape Girardeau County through mutual-aid agreements.
Ennis said the station on Kurre Lane is "cramped" not only with living space for firefighters but in terms of housing firetrucks.
The existing station barely can house two firetrucks. The new station will have three double bays that can handle up to six vehicles.